Danfoss Names Smardt Chiller Group EnVisioneer of the Year

Danfoss, manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and motion systems, recently named Smardt Chiller Group Inc., Montreal-based manufacturer of oil-free centrifugal chillers, the winner in its third annual EnVisioneer of the Year award competition.

Smardt installed three 560-ton water-cooled chillers integrated with Kiltech controls at the Goodyear, Ariz., manufacturing facility of Sub-Zero, maker of high-end refrigeration equipment. The chiller plant, which includes six variable-speed water pumps and three cooling towers, provides chilled water for the entire 452,000-sq-ft facility.

Each Smardt chiller is equipped with four Danfoss Turbocor variable-speed oil-free compressors. The chiller-plant control package uses a custom-made algorithm that models the energy consumption of the chillers and associated devices, optimizing their sequence of operation and delivering total plant performance equal to or better than 0.5 kw per ton of cooling load.

The chiller plant is 61 percent more efficient than a plant using oil-lubricated screw chillers, providing annual savings of 3,033,280 kwh, or approximately $371,700. Annual carbon-dioxide emissions are 3,697,568 lb less than they would be with a conventional chiller plant.

Launched in 2010, the EnVisioneer of the Year award recognizes North American end users, building owners, and original equipment manufacturers that introduced a new product, opened a new facility, or invested in a building or system upgrade over the previous 18 months using Danfoss products or solutions, realizing significant energy and/or environmental savings.